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Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is a galactic shepherd that controls the movements of approximately 60 smaller galaxies. These galaxies, known as satellites, orbit around the Milky Way much like how Earth orbits the Sun. While most of these satellites are too faint to be seen with the naked eye, two of them, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, are bright enough to be visible without the aid of a telescope. Among them, the Large Magellanic Cloud is the largest satellite of the Milky Way.

It wasn’t until this century that most of the smaller and fainter satellites were discovered. These satellites are so far away and dim that telescopes are required to observe them. Most of them appear as tiny puffballs in the sky.

The Canis Major Dwarf is considered by some to be the closest satellite to Earth, located approximately 25,000 light-years away. However, there is ongoing debate about whether it is a galaxy or simply a star cluster. The closest confirmed satellite is the Sagittarius Dwarf, situated about 65,000 light-years from Earth. This satellite has passed through the core of the Milky Way multiple times, resulting in disruptions to the orbits of some stars within our galaxy.

Due to the gravitational pull of the Milky Way, the Sagittarius Dwarf is gradually being torn apart. Eventually, all of its stars will be assimilated into our galaxy, leading to the disappearance of this member of the Milky Way’s flock.

The Sagittarius Dwarf resides in the constellation Sagittarius, which can be found low in the southern sky during nightfall. Its stars form the shape of a teapot, with the dwarf being located to the left of this outline. However, its visibility is limited due to clouds of dust, making it a hidden satellite of the Milky Way.

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